The consensus top pick in the 2016 PBA Rookie Draft, Mac Belo, has come a long way.
Once a dreamer back in Cotabato, Belo is now just hours away from entering the pinnacle of Philippine basketball: the PBA.
For the Gilas cadet, he owes everything to his alma mater, the Far Eastern University, for making him realize where his end game is. Back in 2010, Belo shared that he had no knowledge of the basics of the game he has now fully mastered. During his teenage days, he had refused to play in pick-up games due to a lack of confidence.
“Nag-umpisa lang ako mag-dream ako ng PBA, nung nasa college na ako, nung nasa FEU na ako,” the 23-year-old shared during the 2016 SLAM Draft Suite. “So, kumbaga, pinagpatuloy ko yung hardwork ko. Unti-unti ko namang nakakamit yung dreams ko na yun kahit sa maikling panahon pa lang.”
“Nung nasa probinsya naman kasi, ‘di naman ako ganun kagaling. Nahihiya kasi ako dati, ‘di ako naglalaro-laro masyado sa mga basketball sa amin,” he reflected.
“Hanggang napunta ako sa FEU, sabi ko, nung nanonood ako ng PBA, sabi ko, malaki pala yung chance ko na maglaro rito.”
But the 6-foot-4 forward had no idea where he would start. Fortunately for him, former Tamaraws head coach and current Lady Tamaraws mentor Bert Flores introduced him to the women’s basketball team.
“Si Coach Bert (Flores) kasi siya yung nag-recruit sa akin,” he shared.
“Then naalala ko pa dati na pinagtrai-training niya ako sa women’s ng FEU kasi unang dating ko sa FEU, wala talaga ako e, wala akong alam sa basketball, sa mga terms, sa mga drills.
“Ayun, pinagtiyagaan ako so hanggang nag-two years ako sa Team B, unti-unti akong nag-improve. Hanggang na-lineup.”
During that time, the FEU Lady Tamaraws had been dominant. The team was bannered the troika of Soc Borja, Raiza Palmera, and Allana Lim. That batch of Lady Tams finished with two championships and two silver finishes.
“Sumasabay ako kasama sila [Soc] Borja, [Raiza] Palmera, [Allana] Lim,” the UAAP Season 78 Men’s Basketball Finals MVP recalled. “Sumasabay ako sa kanila sa mga drills lang, sa dribbling, fundamental.”
“Nung una nga, sabi ko, mas magaling pa mga babae sa akin ha kasi alam mo yung zero ka talaga, yung galing kang probinsya, then pagdating mo ng Manila, na-culture shock ka na ganito pala yung basketball dito.
“Kasi sa probinsya, wala namang practice-practice, pag may laro lang, punta aka lang. Yung mind ko, kumbaga, fresh lahat pumapasok na ganito pala yung tawag sa mga drills, sa mga dribble.”
After seven years of hard work, Belo is now being pegged as a potential face of a franchise, a talent that can change a franchise overnight.
“Nandun yung pressure, nape-pressure ako sa ganun, pero ready naman akong i-accept yung challenge. Kung anong i-harap sa aking challenge, ready naman ako,” the Gilas cadet shared.
Even after the championships and the accolades, Belo still remains grateful to the people, the faces, and the institution that helped him find his true calling.
Allana Lim photo by Josh Albelda
